Sturgis advertiser. (Sturgis, Dakota [S.D.]) 1887-1???, 1887-11-09

AZ seen FROM : Dssinterested Standpoint
~ n Omaha Republican Cor

Az seen from plsinterested Standpoint
ny N omaha Republican Cor
respondents.
Away out in the Hills ID Dakota
territory, surrounded By grand farm
ing and the richest mineral country ii
the world, d situated the lively, ener-
getic and progressive town Of Sturgis.
AT present the place has fifty-
two business houses, all enjoy
ing good trade, one bank, the First
National, ID. Al. Mcpherson, president;
Charles Francis, vice president, and j. j.
Davenport, cashier, with capital Of
$4,000, which is doing fine business;
four hotels, three first class, and kept
full by home seekers and spectators.
Two school houses attest the fact that
Sturgis is not behind the times in ed
vocational matters. Three churches that
rear their spires toward the heavens
prove that religious advantages are not
alone to be had in the east, but that in
this far western country churches are
literally supported, and people coming
here to live need not hesitate any on
this account, as both education and re-
ligion are as well supported in this
country as in the older and more settled
communities in the east. The contract
for city hall has just been let, which,
when erected, will be quite an addition
to the town. Buildings are going up in
every direction and times are good,
money being plenty.
We have said that there was a fine
farming country around Sturgis, and
it is fact, not of course as you will
find it in the prairie states, but enough
Of it to support city ten times the size
Of any city in the Hills at the present
day. The valleys of Bear Butte, Spring
Creek, Pleasant Valley, White Wood,
Belle Fourche, all from twenty to fifty
miles long, and from three to ten miles
wide, are splendid agricultural lands,
well settled by prosperous and intelli-
gent farming communities. And what
is OF more account than almost anything
else to the husbandman, crops are sure
and prices are high, as while it does not
cost any more money to raise wheat, oats,
rye or barley here, the price is double
what it is in the states of Illinois, Iowa
or Nebraska. AS might be expected,
Sturgis receives the benefit of all this
beautiful country, which alone would
make it an active and progressive town,
but when we consider that the agricul-
tural products are only incidental toward
the making Of a city here; the wonderful
Black Hills, with its thousands of miners,
and its billions Of treasure, are tribu-
tary to Stnrgis; here must the miner and
the meachant OF the aHills'' buy his
goods, from here must the rich product
of the hills be shipped, as in fact this
city is the grand entrance and exit of
this whole mineral country. Stone and
marble deposits have been found within
a couple of miles of Sturgis, which only
need capital to be developed into good
pacing properties. Timber of all kinds
grow all around the town on the hill
sides; building lumber is cheap and fire
wood more than cheap. The Fremont,
Elkhorn & Missouri Valley railroad has
Just been completed to the city, making
it easy to get here. Town property is
still selling at reasonable figures, but is,
of course, advancing steadily, and any
one wishing to invest in realty in live,
town, must not wait too long
IL they wish to reap the benefit of a big
risc in their property.
Wages are good; mechanics receive
from $3.50 to 50 per day; common la
borers from $40 to s75 per month; house
rent is reasonable, that is, when you find
one empty; living is not high, groceries,
provisions, dry goods and clothing are
only a small per cent higher than in the
east. Homesteads can still be bad in
these beautiful valleys where as we have
said before, crops are sure and prices are
high for all farm products, and it is
therefore the paradise of the farmer.
Our advice is, therefore, to all struggling
farmers in the east who wish to gain
and who wish to work for
what they get, TO come out and take up
a home here, and we will miss our guess
if they, in a few years, will not be way
ahead OF their eastern brethren in wealth
and comfortable homes.